Page 46 of The Keeper

“Because I was out doing personal things. I don’t drive my county vehicle during my downtime.”

“A sheriff doesn’t get downtime. You’re on call twenty-four seven.”

“Well, we can take a detour to my place and collect my SUV, head to the sheriff’s department and borrow a cruiser from the motor pool, or just use my personal truck.”

Lyndhurst considered it. “Might be less intimidating and obvious if we use your personal vehicle, but I think you need to be armed just in case shit goes sideways.”

Seth figured he was right but said, “Shit has already gone sideways.”

“Yeah, and our entire world is about to get turned upside down.”

They made a quick stop by Seth’s house for him to retrieve his gun and badge from his safe and swap vehicles. It turned out to be on the way to the address Odell listed as his home. The corrections officer lived in a small house on a quiet road. The lights were out, and no cars were in the driveway. Seth parked but left the engine running. True to his word, Tony trailed alongside him to the house. They knocked on the front door, then walked around to the back to rap on the sliding glass door. Curtains covered the windows and doors, so they couldn’t detect signs of activity inside, but the property felt empty.

“He’s not here,” Seth said.

“Where to now? His mother’s?”

“We don’t want to alarm her or tip anyone off. Let’s drive by there and see if Odell’s vehicle is in the driveway. I won’t stop and knock yet. The file said he drives a silver Nissan pickup truck. Plate number is in there too.” The jail wanted to know a lot about the people in charge of inmates, including the vehicles they drove onto the correctional site. Jasper Odell was a newer employee, and Seth now questioned if there were holes in their hiring process. “After that, we’ll check out the places our county and city cops like to hang out.”

A bolt of lightning streaked through the sky, propelling them to walk faster. Of all the times for the meteorologists to be right. A vicious storm unleashed Mother Nature’s fury on them, which only amplified the growing frustration Seth felt with every passing second that Odell eluded him. His car wasn’t at his mom’s house when they drove by, and they didn’t find him at any of the bars. They drove around Last Chance Creek and Hart’s Creek and saved the Feisty Bull for last. Seth pulled into a parking spot and put the SUV in park.

“What the hell are you doing?” Tony asked.

“I’m going in to see if my cousin Kerry is working behind the bar. His rescue crews are familiar with all the people in law enforcement, and the corrections guys often pal around with the patrol officers in their downtime. He might be able to tell me which of my deputies hangs around with Odell.” That would be much faster than calling all of them individually, but Seth wouldn’t hesitate to do that next if necessary.

“The longer this guy is in the wind, the more I think he did something to Mick’s food,” Tony said as he removed his seat belt.

“I don’t disagree.”

The restaurant was hopping as usual, and Seth saw Kerry interacting with two guys sitting at the bar. The fellas seemed to be completely enthralled with the brawny bartender, but his cousin seemed impervious to their flirtations. Seth caught Kerry’s eye and gestured for his cousin to meet him at the end of the bar.

“What’s wrong?” Kerry asked.

Seth couldn’t tell him anything that had happened at the jail, and Kerry didn’t ask, but that was only because Tony was there. Kerry would be all over Seth otherwise. Instead, he rattled off the names of a few deputies and corrections officers who hung out with Odell. Seth thanked him for his help, and they headed back to his SUV.

“Where to next?” Tony asked.

Seth’s cell phone rang before he could respond. “Daniels is calling.”

“Put him on speaker,” Tony said.

Seth accepted the call but didn’t have a chance to greet Daniels before the man spoke.

“The ME is pretty sure Carson died of anaphylactic shock,” his lieutenant said.

“Based on what?” Tony pressed.

“His tongue is severely swollen,” Daniels said. “I’ve talked to the head cook and every single person on her staff. There are no peanuts or byproducts on the premises. No nuts of any kind. We searched the kitchen and the staff’s vehicles. We found nothing, sir.”

“Has the ME taken Carson to the morgue?” Tony asked.

“Yes, sir,” Daniels replied. “We secured the cell again so the feds can collect evidence as they see fit. Carson only ate a small portion of his dinner, so they’ll be able to test it for peanuts.”

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He needed to find Odell. “Thanks for the updates. Let me know if the feds arrive before I do.”

“Will do, sir.”

“This was no accident,” Tony said. “Do you think Quinton shut him up before he could talk?”

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